Maharashtra Government Makes Registration Mandatory for All Private Pre-Primary Education Centres

Mumbai/Pune, 24th April 2025: In a significant step toward regulating early childhood education, the Maharashtra government has made it compulsory for all private pre-primary education centres catering to children aged 3 to 6 years to register on a newly launched online portal. The directive, issued by the School Education and Sports Department, aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the State Curriculum Framework for the Foundation Stage (SCFFS) 2024.

A circular regarding this move was issued by Tushar Mahajan, Deputy Secretary of the School Education Department.

According to the circular, the policy classifies the initial five years of formal education — including three years of pre-primary and Grades 1 and 2 — as the “Foundational Stage.” This stage is considered crucial in shaping a child’s cognitive and academic development. The NEP’s 5+3+3+4 structure places strong emphasis on ensuring quality early childhood care and education (ECCE) for children aged 3 to 8.

While data on government and municipal-run centres such as Anganwadis and Balwadis is already available, there is currently no consolidated database of private institutions offering pre-primary education. To address this gap, the department has launched the “Pre-School Registration Portal” to collect and centralize information for state, district, and even parental use.

All private centres — including those operating under names such as Pre-School, Nursery, Jr. KG, or Sr. KG — must register within seven days. The portal will collect details on management, enrollment, facilities, and staff. The objective is to improve transparency, ensure quality standards, and strengthen governance in the pre-primary education sector.

The registration facility is available under the “Pre-School Registration Portal (ECCE)” tab on the official website: education.maharashtra.gov.in.
The Director of Primary Education has been directed to oversee implementation and submit a compliance report to the state authorities. The digitally signed official circular is available on the Maharashtra government’s website, with reference number 202504241129194221.